What is Financial Planning?

Financial planning can be a scary word to some, but once you understand what it encompasses, you’ll be glad you took the time to delve into it. No one likes living pay check to paycheck, and with the proper financial planning, you can set your self and your family up for success. Let’s take a brief look at some of the basic aspects of proper financial planning. Keep in mind that it is always recommended that you find a trusted financial planner to help you through major financial decisions.

Solid financial planning starts with a proper and realistic budget. Budgets are often times not realistic. A budget basically allows you to see a clearer picture of what monies are available and what that money is used for. When you go to spend money on thing you realize that the same money is not available for something else. Secondly cutting down on your expenses helps to lay out a better foundation for you financial plan. You actually use your budget to see what expenses can be cut down. Do really want to pay for the mega channel list, when you only to watch the basics? A small cut back on a several things adds up to a large savings. Thirdly, start pulling out of debt. Let’s face it, we don’t want debt, but most of us do. Start by paying more than the minimum amount due each month. That will cut down on the time it takes to pay off the debt and also save you interest dollars as well.

Start planning for your retirement. Yes, unfortunately we will all get older and changes are, we aren’t going to want to work well into our sixties, seventies, and eighties. The time to plan for retirement isn’t then, it’s now. The Internal Revenue Service has stepped up and provided tax advantages like the employer 401K plans, retirement accounts for individuals, and even retirement plans for individuals who are self-employed. You can actually earn credits, qualify for deductions, and tax free earnings in some cases.

The last thing you want after setting up your budget, cutting your expenses, working on eliminating debt, and preparing for retirement, is an unexpected disaster. Proper insurance for your home, income, car, and life aren’t simply a suggestion, they are a necessity. Better to invest small amount toward insurance and be protected in the case of an accident, or pay nothing until the accident takes place and watch all your hard work go down the drain?

Taking these simple steps and applying them to your financial life will certainly get you on the right track, no matter were you live, how big your family, or what you income. Keep a focused eye on your finances, it will be well worth it both today and in later years.